Bunnies, and chicks, and egg hunts and Easter dinner with the family - Easter really is a fun holiday. But it's also a holy day, and for me and many others who believe that yes, there was a real Jesus, God in the flesh, who sacrificed his life for a messed up world, it's a day of hope. These days Christians are in the news a lot, and not in a good way. We're portrayed as the world's biggest party-poopers out to spoil everyone's good time. But today I don't want to talk about that. I simply want to say that the great message of Easter is that death is not the end. Christ rose from the dead and took away death's sting for all of us. There is life after death. As the popular book and movie say, Heaven is for real. What a great message for those of us who've lost loved ones! I'll see my mom again. And my dad, and finally get to apologize in person to him for being such a brat. My handicapped daughter will be a new glorious creature. Heck, I'll be a new glorious creature. Maybe I'll finally even get to be a blonde! Now, maybe it will turn out that I'm wrong, that millions and millions of people down through the centuries have been deluded. Well, okay. If that turns out to be the case what will I have lost? Nothing. I'll have had a good life, filled with love and hope. And that works for me.Today, we're off to church and then over to the kids' for dinner. Then I'm kidnapping my daughter and granddaughters and taking them to the ocean for a couple of days. The bunny cake is assembled and ready to be frosted when we get there. Life is good. Today is good. No, today is great!Happy Easter everyone.

AMEN! We had a beautiful sunrise service with breakfast afterwards at our little country church...think there were 28 in attendance...sweet fellowship. With 4 of my kids and families coming over later, there will be17 or 18 here for a late dinner. I thank God for giving up his Son for us.